Steph Brennan resigns from RFU as 'Bloodgate' scandal fallout continues | Daily Mail Online Steph Brennan resigns from RFU as 'Bloodgate' scandal fallout continues By Sportsmail Reporter Updated: 21:16 EST, 23 August 2009 comments Former Harlequins physiotherapist Steph Brennan has resigned from his role with the Rugby Football Union. Brennan, banned for two years by European Cup disciplinary chiefs following his role in the so-called 'Bloodgate' scandal, tendered his resignation with immediate effect. Brennan only started work with the RFU earlier this summer. Falling on his sword: Former Harlequins physio Steph Brennan (left) quits the RFU RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share His Twickenham departure comes with rugby union still reeling from the fall-out of last season's Heineken Cup quarter-final between Quins and Leinster, and the damaging fake blood scandal that saw Brennan, ex-Quins rugby director Dean Richards and player Tom Williams all banned. Former England star Richards had already resigned from his post at Quins when a three-year suspension was imposed on him by European Rugby Cup.

Brennan's two-year expulsion and Williams' four-month sentence, which was reduced from a year on appeal, left Quins in disarray less than a month before the new Guinness Premiership season starts. The club was fined almost £260,000, while it has also emerged that Richards had allegedly been involved in four other similar blood injury fabrications that could now prove a subject of further sanction. Brennan, meanwhile, has left the RFU, with Twickenham saying he wanted to 'wholeheartedly' apologise. In a statement, the RFU said: 'Mr Brennan wholeheartedly wanted to apologise for any aspects of his behaviour that caused concern for the RFU and the physiotherapist profession. 'The RFU will not be disclosing any further details to do with his final departure from the organisation, as all employee information remains confidential. ' Richards was cleared of a misconduct charge by a disciplinary panel set up to probe circumstances of a blood injury to Williams during the Heineken Cup quarter-final won 6-5 by Leinster. But ERC's own disciplinary officer appealed the decision, and bans followed last week for Richards and Brennan after a 14-hour hearing in Glasgow.

Richards had taken responsibility for organising the fake injury that saw Williams go off six minutes from time to be replaced by Quins' top kicker Nick Evans, who had earlier departed the game through injury. Only a blood injury could have seen Evans go back on. Despite the six-figure fine and individual suspensions though, Quins avoided Heineken Cup expulsion. Their opening game of this season's tournament is away to Cardiff Blues on October 10. Richard Hill appointed as head coach by Worcester Warriors | Sport | The Guardian Richard Hill appointed as head coach by Worcester Warriors • Worcester hoping Hill will lead club back to top flight • 'This was an opportunity I could not let go,' says Hill Richard Hill said he would do his very best to make Worcester Warriors the successful outfit that it should be. Photograph: David Davies/PA Press Association Thursday 27 May 2010 11.41 EDT First published on Thursday 27 May 2010 11.41 EDT Close This article is 6 years old Worcester have appointed the former England scrum-half Richard Hill as head coach on a two-year contract.

Hill's arrival at Sixways comes a month after Mike Ruddock resigned as Warriors rugby director following relegation from the Guinness Premiership. Hill, 49, has previously coached at Bristol, Gloucester, Harlequins and Newport. He will begin the task of planning Worcester's campaign in the Championship and what the club hope will be a rapid return to English rugby's top flight. Dean Richards, who is serving a three-year worldwide coaching ban following his involvement in the Harlequins' Bloodgate scandal last season, was involved in assisting an independent external review at Worcester following their relegation. But the Warriors said: "For the avoidance of doubt, and in keeping with the values of Worcester Warriors, Dean Richards' role in the review was cleared with the RFU [Rugby Football Union]." It will inevitably raise speculation though, that former-England No8 Richards could be lined up for a role with Worcester when his suspension ends in two years' time. Hill, who played 29 times for England, spent six years at Bristol, a reign that included securing promotion to the Premiership and Heineken Cup qualification following a third-place league finish in 2007.

Worcester's chairman, Cecil Duckworth, said: "Richard has a proven track record of winning the Championship, taking a side into the Premiership and then on to the Heineken Cup in quick succession. "He also has a strong belief in developing the right culture off the pitch that will benefit our group of players. This is exactly what we need at this point in time as we embark on our next journey with an immediate aim of returning to the elite. "I am confident that Richard will be successful, and I will ensure that he receives all the support that he requires." Hill has spent the last year working with the French third division side Chalon-sur-Saône, but he is relishing a return to English rugby. "This was an opportunity that I could not afford to let go," he said. "Everyone knows what a fantastic set-up the Warriors have. The chairman is very ambitious, and he has every right to demand success on the pitch after his financial commitment to the club. "The facilities are as good as any in the country, and the supporters deserve success. For some reason, the performances on the pitch have not been what were expected, but I am excited by the challenge of taking the Warriors through the Championship and on to further success.

"I have had a very successful and enjoyable time at Chalon-sur-Saône, but it is the right time to come back to England. My family are still here, and this represents the challenge and opportunity that I have been waiting for. "I feel privileged that the chairman has asked me to come to Worcester, and I intend to do my very best to make this club the successful outfit that it should be. "We will respect every side in the Championship and prepare ourselves for a long and hard season, but ultimately it will put us in a good position to succeed." Worcester say further announcements regarding the coaching and backroom team at Sixways will be made in the coming weeks. Warriors' place in the Premiership next term will be taken by Exeter, who secured promotion from the Championship by beating play-off opponents Bristol. Conor O'Shea to Leave Harlequins - Last Word on Sports Last Word on Sports Conor O'Shea to Leave Harlequins By Tweet on Twitter Harlequins head coach Conor O’Shea has decided to leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

O’Shea has been the Director of Rugby at Quins since 2010, after Dean Richards resigned following the ‘Bloodgate’ scandal. O’Shea previously coached London Irish from 2000 to 2005. O’Shea has had this to say on the Harlequins website: “I will have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to contribute to this special Club for over six years come May. Conor O’Shea to leave Harlequins “I have enjoyed working with everybody at Harlequins, from the players to the staff to the supporters, having said that, the end of this season is the right time for me to move on. “We have a very talented group of players and coaches who are intent on securing silverware this season and that is my sole focus and where all our efforts are concentrated. I will say my goodbyes when the season is over.” Harlequins currently sit in third position in the league standings, just six points off top-placed Saracens and nine points ahead of Northampton in fifth place. Therefore they are comfortably positioned in the play-off places. They have won six of their nine league games.

Their last league game involved an extremely impressive performance to defeat, the then unbeaten, Saracens in a 29-23 thriller at The Twickenham Stoop. They also sit top of their European Challenge Cup group, having won all five group games with a try bonus point in each. His biggest achievement with Harlequins came in the 2010-2011 season, when his side lifted the Aviva Premiership title. Quins won 17 of their 22 league games, and fought to a 30-23 victory in the final over the Leicester Tigers at Twickenham. He also led his team to be the European Challenge Cup winners the season before, and in the 2012-2013 season Harlequins lifted the LV=Cup. In early December 2015, it was confirmed that the Italian Rugby Federation had approached O’Shea for the position of head coach. However he decided against taking up that role. It is now expected though that he will accept the opportunity to coach Italy.

Main Photo Harlequins will not rush hunt for Dean Richards replacement after Bloodgate - Telegraph Club Harlequins will not rush hunt for Dean Richards replacement after Bloodgate Harlequins will not rush to find a replacement for Dean Richards, their disgraced former director of rugby, despite their opening day defeat to Wasps. Team photo: Tom Williams will be trying to put Bloodgate behind him Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Gavin Mairs 10:20AM BST 11 Sep 2009 Richards resigned from his post last month before he received a three-year worldwide ban for his “central” role in the Bloodgate scandal and subsequent cover-up of the controversy that has rocked the game. Head coach John Kingston has taken overall control following Richards’ departure, along with assistants Tony Diprose and Colin Osborne, but despite speculation linking British and Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan to the position, Harlequins chief executive Mark Evans said the club were no further down the road to appointing a successor. Evans said it could take up to three months to replace Richards and that further defeats in the early part of their Guinness Premiership campaign would not hasten the recruitment process.

“It is too early to say at this moment at what stage we are at,” Evans said. “The situation hasn’t really changed up to this point. There is certainly nothing imminent and nothing in the pipeline, so far as speaking to anyone about coming in.” Evans and former chairman Charles Jillings, who also resigned in the wake of Bloodgate, will learn today whether or not the RFU are to take disciplinary action for pressuring Tom Williams, ahead of a European Rugby Cup appeal hearing, to limit his testimony of his role in the fake blood scam in the Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster last season and subsequent cover-up. Related Articles BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | My Club | Harlequins | Richards banned for three years Richards banned for three years Williams left the field with fake blood pouring from his mouth against Leinster Ex-Harlequins director of rugby Dean Richards has been banned from coaching in European competition for three years for his role in the fake blood injury. Tom Williams faked injury to allow fly-half Nick Evans to return to the field in a Heineken Cup tie against Leinster. Winger Williams's initial 12-month ban has now been reduced to four months.

Quins' fine was increased to £259,000 but European Rugby Cup (ERC) stopped short of the ultimate sanction of throwing them out of this year's Cup. The original fine of 250,000 euros (£206,000) had been half suspended, but the new amount is payable in full. However, Harlequins will be relieved not to have been thrown out of this season's Heineken Cup, which might have cost them 15% of their annual revenue. Physiotherapist Steph Brennan was handed a two-year ban after an admission of guilt, but the appeal committee dismissed the charge against Dr Wendy Chapman from the club's medical staff. Former England forward Richards, who resigned from his position as director of rugby at Quins last weekend, was also found to have been involved in four similar incidents, hence the severity of his punishment. Reacting to his ban, Richards said: "I'm surprised. Three years is a long time but I'll reflect on it overnight. "I took full responsibility for it. It was a farcical situation, it really was. "It didn't pan out particularly well on the day.

Everybody looked at it and thought, 'That's unreal', which is what I thought on the touchline as well. "But I had to hold my hands up." The cover-up is thought to have involved Williams' face being deliberately cut after the Leinster match to hide the fact he had used a fake blood capsule. Richards said: "I have no knowledge of that. I wasn't party to anything going on there. I took full responsibility for it. It was a farcical situation, it really was Dean Richards "I'm not aware that it did happen. I know that he had a cut but I don't know how it came about because I wasn't in the room." Richards had not decided whether to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. He said: "I'm a little bit shocked, a little bit surprised by it all. "It seems a little bit disproportionate but, at the end of the day, I'll reflect on it overnight and obviously see where my thoughts are in the morning." Reading a statement, Williams said: "I sincerely regret the role that I've played in this unacceptable incident that has done so much damage to the image of rugby union.

"I let down my team-mates and the club's fans, and I'll have to live with those actions for the rest of my career. "In deciding to come clean and do the right thing, I've tried honestly to rectify this mess and repay the good faith shown in me by my friends and family. "I would like to thank the ERC disciplinary panel for their decision to reduce my sanction and I am relieved that they did this. Richards resigned earlier this month after four seasons with Quins "However, I also realise the grave error of judgment that I have made." He added: "I hope that, as a result of this episode, no player or employee will ever be put in such a compromised position, and if they are then they will always tell the truth, as I had wished I had done from the outset." The Professional Rugby Players' Association welcomed the decision to reduce the ban handed down to Williams. "We are grateful to the ERC disciplinary panel that Tom's ban has been reduced on appeal, but the aftermath of this episode has left an indelible stigma on the professional game," said PRA chief executive Damian Hopley.

"Tom is a fine young man of good character, even though he is guilty of a serious error of judgement, albeit under instruction from his employer. "He has been under tremendous pressure since the original incident in April, but his determination to tell the truth and attempt to undo the damage done to himself, his family and the image of the game speaks volumes for the enormous remorse he feels." The sanction on Richards applies to ERC-organised tournaments, though the ERC will request it is extended to become a worldwide ban. The decision, which cannot be appealed against, was made by an independent ERC disciplinary committee in Glasgow late on Monday. A statement on the club's website said: "Whilst the club are pleased that Tom Williams' ban has been reduced, we feel this is a very significant penalty in terms of fine. I also realise the grave error of judgment that I have made Tom Williams "We will now continue with our internal review into all aspects of the business to ensure that we have the most stringent compliance and robust policies and processes in place throughout the club and work towards rebuilding our reputation on and off the field.

"We hope that the club can now draw a line under what has been a difficult few months, learn from it and move on." Evans had departed injured in the 47th minute of the 6-5 defeat by Leinster before his replacement at number 10, Chris Malone, also went off injured later in the second half. With time running out, Williams was seen with what appeared to be blood coming out of his mouth, which meant he could go off to be replaced by specialist kicker Evans. Evans missed a drop goal as the Irish side held out for the win before going on to win the Heineken Cup. Television pictures appeared to show Williams winking at the bench as he went off. Leinster were incensed and their club doctor, Professor Arthur Tanner, followed Williams down the tunnel but was prevented from entering the treatment room.

Bookmark with: Former Quins coach Richards points finger at Williams over 'bloodgate' | Daily Mail Online Former Quins coach Richards points finger at Williams over 'bloodgate' comments Compromised: Dean Richards Dean Richards has came out fighting in defence of his role in the Harlequins 'bloodgate' scandal by exposing details of how Tom Williams instigated the cover-up of his own faked injury. Former England No 8 Richards is awaiting a full report from the ERC panel who banned him for three years before deciding whether to challenge that verdict. Yet, having already resigned as Quins' director of rugby, he has been sufficiently stunned to push some of the blame back on Williams, the wing who had his own suspension reduced from a year to four months. In a statement, Richards said of the fateful clash with Leinster four months ago: 'I have always been passionate about rugby and in the dying minutes of that Heineken Cup quarter-final - a stage Harlequins had never reached - I allowed my passion for the club to compromise my judgment. I ordered a blood substitution to be made using fake blood.

'Some eight days later I was told by Tom Williams that, in the heat of the moment and at his direction, he had his lip cut to make it appear as if there had been a real injury. Believing this to be true, I felt a duty and sense of loyalty to safeguard the professional position of those involved. 'From then on, with the agreement of Tom Williams, I suggested the fabrication of a story which led to us all withholding the true facts, a position that was obviously wrong. I honestly believed I was acting in the best interests of the club and my colleagues, a clearly mistaken belief. 'I am mortified that this has brought damaging publicity on Harlequins, members of its staff, my own family and the wider game of rugby. I am relieved for all at the club that my actions have not cost them a place in the Heineken Cup this season.' Team guide by the Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards | Sport | The Guardian Bath Summer in brief An ugly shambles, Bath were spared utter condemnation only by Harlequins landing in equal amounts of ignominy.

Both of last season's captains, Alex Crockett and Michael Lipman, resigned after a drugs scandal at the club's end-of-season party, two of five to be banned in eight months. Main man Michael Claassens. His quick, clean distribution skills are crucial to Bath's way of playing. More telling still will be his captaincy, as he tries to get the team to regroup and refocus after the turmoil. Edwards' verdict The Premiership's most exciting club for the past couple of seasons and a team prepared to take risks. Now they have to throw off the hangover of losing their joint captains plus influential players in Justin Harrison and Andrew Higgins. Olly Barkley, who is back after his year with Gloucester , was missed last season when Bath fell at the big fences and his kicking game will be needed. Gloucester Summer in brief Dean Ryan has departed after five years in charge, and been replaced by the former backs coach Bryan Redpath. A dozen senior players from the Ryan era have also left, leaving a coltish squad in place for this season. Main man Nicky Robinson.

With Olly Barkley and Ryan Lamb both leaving in the summer, the erratic Robinson will be under pressure to replicate his superb form at fly-half for Cardiff last season. If he does he will spark the backs. Edwards' verdict Gloucester have gained a reputation for failing when it mattered. Now it's up to Bryan Redpath to make things work and word from Kingsholm is that it's a happy ship again despite all the departures. There have been signings but Redpath is said to have high expectations of lads such as Charlie Sharples and Henry Trinder, who are moving up from the academy. Harlequins Summer in brief Plumbing unfathomed depths after the Bloodgate cheating disgrace, the seemingly successful playing and business model Harlequins developed in recent seasons has been torn up. Main man Nick Easter. With nine forwards leaving during the close season, Harlequins lack depth up front. Easter must show enough maturity to hold together a depleted pack and inspire a club in disarray. Edwards' verdict Who knows what to expect, but I don't anticipate many changes on the field. True, the brooding presence is gone, but word was that Dean Richards had little involvement in day-to-day coaching.

John Kingston worked more closely with the team and his creative style is what counts. Expect innovations around set pieces, but a lot will depend on keeping Nick Evans and David Strettle fit. Leeds Carnegie Main man Marco Wentzel. An old colleague of Back from Leicester , Wentzel was signed this summer and immediately appointed captain. He has been singled out by Back as a man with the experience and leadership skills to drag the squad through the season. Summer in brief Promotion did not stop them losing England Sevens' sparks Tom Biggs and Rob Vickerman, both to Newcastle . Neil Back has spent the summer preparing his team for the step up, with the help of a couple of canny old pros who know just how hard the slog is. Edwards' verdict They may be short on quality and probably don't have a lot of cash, but any side with Neil Back in charge will be fit and committed. Survival has to be the aim, and the new laws at the breakdown suit the kind of game Back played. He has made a couple of bright signings. Back-row bruiser Alfie To'oala was a big favourite at Bristol and Andy Gomarsall brings with him a hatful of experience. Leicester Tigers Main man Toby Flood.

In between spells in the England team, Flood will need to flourish. Leicester's perennial problem position of fly-half on the crucial occasions when he is available. Summer in brief There has been more change than might have seemed likely when they won the title last season. A full 15 players have left the squad one way or another, Geordan Murphy is a surprising pick as captain, but the new Caterpillar Stand is open, making Welford Road even more intimidating to visit. Edwards' verdict Reigning champions and runners-up in the Heineken Cup. Richard Cockerill did a lot in his first season in charge, but some big names have gone. The loss of a former England captain [Martin Corry] and a couple of other internationals would hurt most clubs, but at Leicester there always appears to be another cab on the rank. London Irish Main man Ryan Lamb. Chris Malone provides a certain steady assurance, but with Shane Geraghty leaving the onus will be on Lamb to provide the extra spark that fires the side from second to first.

Summer in brief Toby Booth has done no more than tinker with the formula that served the club so well last season and the most interesting addition has been the experienced Dave Ellis as defensive coach. Edwards' verdict Last season their consistency in taking at least a point from every match was unbelievable. I know Toby Booth was pretty cut up about the loss of Shane Geraghty, but I have a hunch he won't be that badly missed. It will be fascinating to see how Mike Catt fashions Ryan Lamb's post-Gloucester career. That's assuming Catt concerns himself more with coaching than playing. London Wasps Main man Danny Cipriani. The new captain, Tom Rees, will be more important and influential, but all eyes will be fixed on Cipriani just the same, as the world waits to see whether he comes of age. Summer in brief Adjusting to life after Ian McGeechan and the loss of a raft-load of good players. The new director of rugby, Tony Hanks, has gambled on some risky but potentially rewarding replacements by converting Lee Smith from rugby league, and bringing in Dan Ward-Smith and Tom Varndell.

Edwards' verdict Lots of changes, with Tony Hanks in for Ian McGeechan at the top and internationals such as Riki Flutey, Tom Palmer and James Haskell off to France. The upside is that we won't be so disrupted by international absences. Trevor Woodman is looking after the forwards while the speed of David Lemi and Tom Varndell should increase our ability to score tries from a distance. Newcastle Falcons Main man Carl Hayman. One of the best tightheads in the game will need to justify his huge wage by ensuring the pack can secure enough ball for a talented back line to thrive. Summer in brief An astonishing total of 25 players have left the club, a backlash against their flirtation with relegation in 2008-09. Fifteen new signings have come in, but there are not too many proven Premiership performers among them. Edwards' verdict Jonny Wilkinson and Tom May are in France with Toulon, James Noon is with Brive and David Wilson has moved to Bath. After Mathew Tait shifted to Sale and James Hook signed for Leicester, who is left? Carl Hayman and a lively pack and an interesting midfield partnership is the answer.

Newcastle were a force after Christmas and I expect the momentum to remain. Northampton Saints Main man Dylan Hartley. Mallinder is wagering that the captaincy will be the making of Hartley, who will need to hold his side, and his temper, together away from home, where Saints struggled last season. Summer in brief Quietly content with last season's showing, Jim Mallinder has added a little dazzle to his back line, and assiduously strengthened his pack by signing a pair of seasoned locks and two mean props. Edwards' verdict This is one of the richest clubs, with a fantastic stadium and a following to match. You sense that success is about to happen and if Saints brush up their away form it might. Shane Geraghty may be the eye-catching signing, but Jim Mallinder continues to spend Keith Barwell's money cleverly. Phil Dowson is a shrewd operator and the new laws on the breakdown will suit his style of play. Sale Sharks Main man Charlie Hodgson. Along with Dwayne Peel, Hodgson will need to be at his very best to boss Sale's back line from behind a weakened pack.

Summer in brief A topsy-turvy time after Philippe Saint-André's switch to Toulon, along with key players Juan Fernández Lobbe and Sébastien Bruno Edwards' verdict Testing times at Edgeley Park. Along with the Toulon departures Sébastien Chabal has gone to Paris's new big spenders and Luke McAlister returned to New Zealand. The men with the job of pleasing an ambitious owner are Kingsley Jones and Jason Robinson, a much-respected player and just the man to build much-needed team spirit. David Seymour is a clever signing Saracens Main man Steve Borthwick. Bound to miss much of the season while he is with England, Borthwick will still have to pull together a disparate dressing room that could quickly become cliquey if the season starts badly. Summer in brief After Sarries were taken over by South African investors at the end of last season, it was no secret that Brendan Venter would clear out the squad this summer. Of 12 players that came in, six were from South Africa. Edwards' verdict After his work with London Irish and the Stormers you have to respect Brendan Venter, the man taking over after last season's clear-out.

Some big names have gone but there have also been some tremendous signings. Schalk Brits, the hooker with the speed of a centre, will make a huge impact but the signing of Carlos Nieto from Gloucester shows that Venter will get the basics right. Worcester Warriors Main man Willie Walker. The only big summer signing, Walker will need to perform every bit as well as he did on loan at Sixways last season. Worcester need his goal-kicking to be spot on, and his distribution to fire their richly talented back line. Summer in brief Having spent so much on building the club up, Worcester have tightened their purse strings of late and have had a summer of stability. Edwards' verdict Worcester have been remarkably quiet in the transfer market and the continuity might help. In Sam Tuitupou and Chris Latham they have established stars. In Miles Benjamin they have a young wing for the future and I know that, through his mentoring system, Mike Ruddock sees more talent arriving through from the academy rather than by way of Cecil Duckworth's chequebook.

Dean Richards - Latest news on Metro UK Dean Richards Brown ready for All Blacks challenge Mike Brown England full-back Mike Brown is being asked to jump from the frying pan into the fire for Saturday’s first Test against New Zealand – and he is relishing the challenge. Brown made his international debut in an under-strength England team on last summer’s tour of South Africa and he was given a rough […] On the Spot: Dan Hipkiss Big weekend: Dan Hipkiss Leicester centre and part-time guitar hero Dan Hipkiss tuned up for tomorrow’s Premiership clash with Harlequins by blasting out some good old ruck ‘n’ roll with his band Slo Progress this week. All funds from the charity gig went to Matt Hampson, the Leicester prop paralysed after sustaining a neck injury […] Probyn urges Ashton exit Brian Ashton Rob Andrew has been urged to demote England coach Brian Ashton when he outlines his RBS 6 Nations review. Twickenham’s director of elite rugby will meet with the Rugby Football Union’s management board to discuss his recommendations following England’s second-place finish in the championship. “Brian Ashton should not be in charge.

He’s a […] Hill throws in the towel Richard Hill Richard Hill virtually wrote off the rest of Bristol’s season following their 28-15 Guinness Premiership defeat to Harlequins. Head coach Hill watched his side slump to their ninth league defeat of the campaign after a second half to forget at the Memorial Stadium. “I can now plan for next year by bringing young […] Richards backs Johnson for role Martin Johnson. Dean Richards believes Martin Johnson is the outstanding candidate should England decide to appoint an all-powerful team manager. Johnson will reportedly meet Rob Andrew within the next 48 hours with Twickenham’s director of elite rugby ready to hand him control of the England side. Former England number eight Richards, who has coached and […] Easter concern for Ashton Nick Easter Harlequins number eight Nick Easter is an England worry for the RBS 6 Nations after damaging a knee in his club’s hard-fought 10-7 Guinness Premiership win at Worcester.

Easter, who played a major role in his country’s successful World Cup campaign, was expected to be named in Brian Ashton’s squad for the tournament […] Heineken Cup 2013: Bloodgate affair is behind us now, says Harlequins fly-half Nick Evans - Telegraph Matt Le Tissier could make playing comeback for Guernsey FC 05 Apr 2013 Evans and Quins are now preparing for another Heineken Cup quarter-final with Irish opposition – they face Munster on Sunday – but the memories of that fateful afternoon are still raw. Evans admits that the club was on the verge of “imploding” and that his own scruples had come under scrutiny. “It was tough for me because I had just come over in my first year and I’d done pretty well and this all came to a head,” said Evans. “People were questioning why I play rugby and my part in it – they were questioning my integrity and I took quite a big offence at that.

“It was a pretty tough time, especially going back home, with people asking: 'What is happening?’ You say: “It’s been going on for a while and I’m sure it’s happened to a lot of other clubs as well.’ There was a lot of explaining.” There was fear, too, that the club would never recover from the devastating blow to their reputation. “Having been involved in the whole process, I had to go to the ERC [European Rugby Cup] hearings and heard the kind of things that were going on and what was going to happen to the club,” added Evans. “Deano went but it wasn’t just him — it was physios, doctors. I honestly didn’t think we would even get up to where we were before never mind where we are now. “I remember the first game and George Robson got sent off in the first minute and I was just thinking: 'What the hell is going on here?’ I think we kind of knew as a group it was going to be a year of just surviving, letting water get under the bridge. The best thing was getting back with the guys and just getting through that year.

Once people had been given the reprimands they got it was all about getting the club back on its feet.” Four years on and Evans, now 32, is sitting in Quins’ team-room at their training base at the Surrey Sports Park. Buzz phrases such as 'Respect, Excellence, Pride and Dignity’ burst out of the posters adorning the walls. All those qualities have now been restored in the wake of the Bloodgate fiasco, thanks largely to the arrival of Conor O’Shea in March 2010. Yet just as pivotal was that the likes of Evans decided to stay put and help the club rebuild, dragging Quins out of the gutter to become champions of England last season. The turning point, according to Evans, was winning the Amlin Challenge Cup in 2011, when his conversion of Gonzalo Camacho’s late try clinched a dramatic victory over Stade Francais at Cardiff City Stadium. “Winning that first trophy since Bloodgate was a big thing for us and for myself to see that,” Evans added. “Not a lot had changed within the playing group and the coaching staff and that was a really big key for us.

We didn’t really lose a lot of guys. A lot of them could have jumped ship. It wasn’t just me that was getting offers. It was guys like Ugo Monye and Danny Care. There were a lot of offers but we stayed together. “I think it was because we got on so well and enjoyed playing the kind of rugby. That never changed. The basis of what the club is about never changed from the playing point of view. “We couldn’t control what was going on outside of that so we only concentrated on what we could and that was playing rugby the way we wanted to play. “We had a certain amount of luck and then Conor came along and he had the same kind of mindset. He took care of the things he needed to take care of without really influencing the way we were doing things on the field. “We just sharpened up a few things, the values and what we were as a club. We put that to the forefront of the mind rather than in the background and Conor took control after that. I truthfully didn’t expect us to win a trophy that quickly but that was just the catalyst for the Premiership win.

Before that we had been winning games but we had also been losing quite a few within seven points and didn’t have that mental edge or that hard-headed edge to finish the big games off.” That fallibility returned last season when Harlequins failed to qualify for the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup following a shock 9-8 pool defeat at Connacht. It is avenging that memory, rather than those of Bloodgate, that is the big motivation for Quins today. “For the club the whole Bloodgate has been parked as far as we are concerned,” Evans added. “Righting the wrongs from last year would be a fantastic opportunity to take that next step. It is something the club hasn’t done before to go past the quarter-finals. “We are up against a team that epitomises what the Heineken Cup is all about. To win it would be the ultimate achievement.” A victory on Sunday would be a big step in that direction. And a feat that Evans would no doubt happily watch again and again. What happened to the key figures in Bloodgate Coaches John Kingston: Kingston has remained as head coach of Quins, despite being part of the coaching team that allowed the scandal to happen.

Dean Richards: Having served a three-year ban from all rugby as part of the fallout, Richards is now Director of Rugby at Newcastle Falcons. The team are set to be promoted to the Aviva Premiership. Players Tom Williams: The man who bit the blood capsule and winked at the bench was banned for a year, later reduced to four months on appeal. He remains at Quins and recently signed a contract extension until 2015. Nick Evans: The player brought on for Williams to try to kick Quins to victory. Evans subsequently helped Quins to the Premiership title and the 2011 Challenge Cup. Currently the Premiership’s top points scorer. Medical staff Steph Brennan: The physio was initially struck off but, after a successful appeal, was permitted to continue practising. He is now the rehabilitation physio at Australian rugby league club Sydney Roosters. Dr Wendy Chapman: The club doctor who cut Williams’ lip after he bit the blood capsule was banned for a year by the General Medical Council, but in 2010 was granted leave to continue practising. Executives Mark Evans: The club’s chief executive stayed on at Harlequins but stepped down in 2011.

He is now director of a sport consulting company, Capacity Consulting Ltd. Charles Jillings: Chairman at the time, Jillings resigned his post, blaming Richards. He works on the board of Utilico, an investment company. Sports Scandals Pro Football In Jan. 2015, the New England Patriots were investigated by the National Football League (NFL) for using under-inflated footballs during the AFC Championship Game, which they won, beating the Indianapolis Colts, 45-7. According to league sources, the NFL did indeed find that 11 of the Patriots' 12 game balls were under-inflated by two pounds per square inch. An NFL investigator released a report in May 2015 that found "substantial and credible evidence" that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady knew that the team's employees were deflating the footballs. Based on the findings of the report, the NFL suspended Brady for the first four games of the 2015-2016 season. Brady appealed the suspension, but his appeal was denied by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who handed down the suspension. Brady and the NFL players association took the case to federal court.

The judge, Richard Berman of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, heard the case and encouraged Brady and the NFL to settle. The two sides could not come to agreement, and on September 3, 2015, Judge Berman reversed the suspension. His decision did not rule if Brady tampered with the footballs. Instead, the ruling said Goodell did not have the authority to suspend Brady under the contract between the NFL and the players' union. The NFL appealed the decision, and in April 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit reinstated Brady's suspension. He will have to sit out the first four games of the 2016–2017 season. The scandal, dubbed "Deflategate" by the media, was just the latest in a long list of sports scandals. In fact, the Patriots were involved in another controversy in 2007, known as "Spygate." Here are some of the biggest scandals in sports.

This list focuses mainly on scandals involving athletes and organizations that cheated in order to affect the outcome of a game or the organization's success, not the personal, off the field scandals that have made headlines over the years by sports figures such as Tiger Woods , O.J. Simpson , Pete Rose , Michael Vick , and Kobe Bryant . Black Sox The Chicago White Sox lost the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds in 1919. Later on, eight White Sox players were accused of being paid by gamblers to intentionally lose the World Series. A Chicago grand jury began its investigation in 1920. Two of the players, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson and Eddie Cicotte, confessed to the grand jury on Sept. 28, 1920, that they were involved in the scheme. The following month, the grand jury charged eight players and five gamblers. The charges included nine counts of conspiracy to defraud. The trial began the following year. Before the trial, evidence disappeared, including Jackson and Cicotte’s signed confessions. By then, Jackson and Cicotte had recanted their confessions. The jury found all of the players not guilty.

Even though they were acquitted, the eight players were banned from playing baseball for life. Lance Armstrong Between 1999 and 2005, Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France a record seven times. Armstrong, a cancer survivor, also founded the Livestrong foundation, providing support to cancer patients. Throughout his entire career, Armstrong denied drug use until 2013, when he confessed to doping, during a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey . His confession came a year after the United States Anti-Doping Agency released its findings and the Union Cycliste Internationale banned him from cycling for life. Armstrong was stripped of all of his former Tour de France wins. In 2013, Armstrong topped Forbes list of the most hated U.S. athletes. The Whack Heard Round the World On Jan. 6, 1994, immediately following a practice session at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Detroit, Shane Stant attacked figure skater Nancy Kerrigan . Stant hit Kerrigan on the right knee with a police baton. Jeff Gillooly, the ex-husband of figure skater Tonya Harding , a rival of Kerrigan’s, and Shawn Eckardt planned the assault.

Kerrigan grabbed her knee after the attack and, in a moment broadcast all over the world , cried, “Why, why, why?” Kerrigan was forced to withdraw from the U.S. Championships. Kerrigan recovered quickly and won the silver medal at the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Olympics. Kerrigan’s attack and Harding’s suspected involvement created a media frenzy unlike any other before that time, with 400 reporters covering the two skater’s practices during the 1994 Olympics. All three men involved served time for their role in Kerrigan's attack. In order to avoid further prosecution and jail time, Harding pleaded guilty to conspiring to hinder the prosecution in March 1994. Floyd Landis American cyclist Floyd Landis won the 2006 Tour de France, only to be stripped of the title later on, after he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. In Jan. 2010, a judge in France issued a warrant for Landis’ arrest over computer hacking allegations, which were related to the 2006 doping scandal. Landis denied the allegations for years. His legal team presented inconsistencies in the evaluations of his urine samples during the drug testing.

Still, Landis’ disqualification was upheld. Finally, on May 20, 2010, Landis confessed to doping. He also named other top cyclists, including Lance Armstrong, as abusers of performance enhancing drugs. After his confession, Landis could not find a new team to ride for and retired. SpyGate During the 2007 NFL season, the New England Patriots videotaped signals made by the defensive coaches of the New York Jets. The videotaping happened during a game on Sept. 9, 2007. After an investigation, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that the taping was in violation of league rules. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, the largest fine ever handed down to a NFL coach and the maximum allowed. The team also lost a first-round draft pick for the following season. Due in part to the large fine, the incident received a ton of media attention and was dubbed “spygate.” Deflategate Eight years later, the New England Patriots found themselves involved in another “gate” scandal that received major media attention, including a spoofing on Saturday Night Live.

Known as “deflategate,” this scandal involved under-inflated footballs used by the team on January 18, 2015, during the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts. According to NFL rules, footballs should be inflated between 12.5 and 13.5 pounds per square inch. League officials inspected the footballs during halftime of the AFC Championship Game. Eleven of the footballs used by the Patriots in the first half were inflated two pounds per square inch below the required level. Backup footballs were used in the second half of game. As of Jan. 27, 2015, the NFL was still investigating the matter. According to ESPN, during the 2014-15 regular season both the Colts and the Baltimore Ravens grew suspicious of the Patriots using under-inflated footballs. During their regular season game against the Patriots on Nov. 16, 2014, the Colts took possession of two footballs thrown by Tom Brady and brought the matter to the NFL.

The New England Patriots stood behind Brady after the NFL's investigation released its report finding that Brady "was at least generally aware" of the footballs being deflated and suspended him for four games in May 2015. Patriots owner Bob Kraft said in a statement, "Tom Brady has our unconditional support. Our belief in him has not wavered." Brady appealed his four-game suspension. After hearing Brady's appeal, Commissioner Goodell decided to uphold the suspension. In a 20-page statement released in late July 2015, the league wrote that Goodell's decision was largely based on the fact that Brady had an assistant destroy a cellphone he used the week of the game. The cellphone was seen as potential evidence. For the team's role in deflategate, the New England Patriots were fined $1 million and lost two top draft picks. Bloodgate In what many consider one of the biggest rugby incidents since its mid-1990s professionalization, this scandal involved the use of fake blood capsules, hence the nickname, bloodgate.

On April 12, 2009, the Harlequins, an English team, played the Irish team Leinster in a quarterfinal match of the Heineken Cup. During the match, Harlequins wing Tom Williams came off the field, using blood capsules to fake an injury so teammate Nick Evans could re-enter the match. Evans had to leave the field earlier in the match due to injury. Despite “bloodgate,” Leinster won the game, 6-5, and went on to win the Heineken Cup for the first time. The European Rugby Cup and Rugby Football Union investigated the incident. The investigation revealed that the Harlequins had also used blood capsules to fake injuries in order to make tactical substitutions in four previous matches. Williams was banned for twelve-months, reduced to four months after his appeal. The Harlequins were fined 260,000 pounds. Rugby Director Dean Richards was banned for three years. Physiotherapist Steph Brennan was banned for two years. Bountygate In 2010, the NFL began investigating the New Orleans Saints based on allegations from an anonymous player who said that the team had a bounty system.

The NFL's investigation found that Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams had indeed created a bounty program involving 22-27 Saints players. From 2009 through 2011, Saints players received “bounties,” or bonuses, for injuring players on the opposing teams. The program was in effect during the year the Saints won the Super Bowl in 2009. For bountygate, the Saints received some of the most severe punishment ever given in the NFL’s history. Williams was suspended indefinitely, although that would be overturned the following year. Saints Head Coach Sean Payton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma were suspended for the entire 2012 season. The general manager, assistant head coach, and several players were also suspended for multiple games. The organization was fined $500,000, and lost their second-round draft picks for 2012 and 2013. Salt Lake City Buys Olympics Salt Lake City attempted and failed four times to host the Winter Olympics prior to winning its bid to host in 2002.

However, in 1998, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was accused of taking bribes from the Salt Lake Organizing Committee (SLOC) during the bidding process for those 2002 games. Several IOC members were expelled from the committee. The U.S. Department of Justice brought charges against SLOC leaders. Later on, all of those leaders were acquitted. The investigation also found that the IOC received bribes during bids for the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2000 Summer Olympics. Horse Murders The horse murders scandal was an ongoing incident from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s. According to an FBI investigation, between 50-100 horses were killed over a 20-year period so that their owners could collect the insurance money. The horses, all of them expensive and many of them show horses, had been insured against death. In 1977, wealthy heiress Helen Brach disappeared after she threatened to go to the authorities with information about the horse murders. Law enforcement officials believed she was kidnapped and murdered by the guilty parties.

Thirty-five people were convicted of charges, including insurance fraud, obstruction of justice, extortion, racketeering, and animal cruelty. Although the murder of Brach was never completely solved, Richard Bailey was sentenced to life in prison for soliciting her murder. ESPN has called the two decade long horse murders “the biggest scandal in the history of equestrian sports.” Ponygate The Southern Methodist University football scandal led to the NCAA punishing them with the “death penalty,” cancelling SMU’s entire 1987 season. Over the next four years, 55 scholarships were lost. Its coaching staff was cut severely and no off-campus recruiting was permitted until August 1988. The punishment came after an investigation into the program that proved the university had committed several violations of NCAA rules. The worst violation was a slush fund used from the mid-1970s through 1986 to pay players under the table. After the scandal, SMU did not make a bowl game until 2009 and had one winning season in twenty years. Baylor University Athlete Murders Teammate An investigation of Baylor University’s men’s basketball program in the early 2000s found that the team had committed numerous NCAA violations.

The scandal began with the disappearance of junior forward Patrick Dennehy during the summer of 2003. On June 25, 2003, Dennehy’s car was found in Virginia Beach, Virginia, minus the car’s license plates. The following month, Dennehy’s body was found in a gravel pit near Waco, Texas. Dennehy’s teammate Carlton Dotson pleaded guilty to his murder. Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The university and the NCAA investigated the murder as well as allegations of drug use and the coaching staff making improper payments to players. Head coach Dave Bliss resigned. The NCAA issued one of the harshest penalties ever given to a Division I program, including sanctions, a ban from any nonconference games for an entire season, and extended probation for the university. After the incident and punishment, the men’s basketball team did not have a winning season until 2008. Sources: ESPN, Forbes, National Football League

Question: Who was the head coach of Harlequins RUFC who resigned following the 'Bloodgate scandal'?
Answer: Dean Richards